CLICK TO ENLARGE. Larger images of above, members of Snohomish County Fire District 7 water rescue team training this week by the Lewis Street boat launch in Monroe. Photos: Fire District 7.

Chronicle Staff

(MONROE, WA.) – Between right about now and through the end of June is a particularly dangerous time – deceptively dangerous – for casual, inexperienced and often ill-equipped river rafters in western Washington.

But that danger is masked very effectively by a few warm, sunny spring days here and there that give rise to a pent up demand.

A demand to break out the old air mattress, inner tubes or inflatable consumer-grade rubber raft, throw on a pair of cut-offs and a T-shirt and hit a local river for a good float-down with a few brewskies in hand.

What could be easier or more fun? For a look at the life and death consequences of such a decision, please check out the Chronicle’s April 20th feature story right here .